Submarine barrier



22,- 9 J. J. MORRISON ET AL 2,170,481

SUBMARINE BARRIER Filed Aug. 12, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 g- 1939- J. J. MORRISON ET AL 2,170,481

' SUBMARINE BARRIER I Fil ed Aug. 12, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 15." J4ME5 J. MOE/e 50A/ @404 J4M55 f. HOWE.

Patented Aug. 22, 1939 SUBMARINE BARRIER Application August 12, 1936, Serial No. 95,651

4' Claims.

This invention relates t0.submarine barriers, and, more particularly, to barriers adapted for use with a signal system, whereby moving underwater bodies, such as submarines, coming in contact therewith, will actuate the signal mechanism to reveal their presence.

The present invention relates to nets of a. sturdy but light construction, which may be manufactured in simple elemental parts on shore and readily assembled at the location wherein use is desired. Their construction is such that any number of the elemental parts may be joined together to cover areas beneath the surface of a body of water of any desired vertical and lateral l5 extent. Each net, when assembled, is adapted to function not so much as a defensive barrier for effectually excluding submarine craft, but rather as an element in a signal system which will. when contacted by such craft, cause surface 20 signals to be actuated revealing the presence and exact location of the submarine.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one embodirment of the present invention illustrated in installed position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a fas- 30 tening employed in the present invention.

Figure 4 is a. sectional view taken along line IV1V of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a composite elevation and sectional view of a form of fastening similar to that shown 5 in Figures 3 and 4. 1

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line VIVI in Figure 2. Figure '7 is a fragmentary detailed view of the device illustrated in Figure 6.

40 Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed view of one form of frangible link embodied in the construction of the present invention. 7

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view taken along line IX-IX of Figure 8.

5 Figure 10 is an elevational view of still another embodiment of the present invention shown in installed position.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the construction shown in Fig- 5o ure 10. 7

Figures l2, 13, 14 and 15 are detailed views of modified forms of fastening devices which are employed in the various embodiments of our invention.

55 In the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a retiform body composed of vertical strands I and horizontal strands 2, secured at their points of intersection by fastenings 3. Suitable types of fastenings for this purpose are illustrated in Fig ures 3, 4 and 5, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The retiform body thus formed, is adapted to be suspended between the surface of a body of water and its bottom, and

to this end a suspension cable 3 is provided, hav- 0 ing floats or buoys 5 arranged at suitable spaced intervals along'its length. The opposite extremities of the supporting cable 4 may be anchored at fixed points by suitable anchorages disposed either in the water, or uponadjacent embank- 15 ments of the land. It may be retained under tension so as to reduce the catenary thereof, which function will be further augmented by the floats or buoys 5. The buoys alone may be relied upon to perform this function.

Certain of the buoys 5, are provided with anchor cables 6, which extend down through the depth of the water to suitable anchoring means ,1, upon the bottom. The retiform body is hung from' the supported cable 4 bysuitable clamping members 8, which are provided with vertical cable sockets 9 that are adapted to receive the upper extremities of the vertical cable mem-' bers l.

At intervals along the length of certain of the 3 vertical and horizontal strands l and 2, are interposed frangible link members ill, of any suitable form, a preferential construction of which is shown in Figures 8 and 9. These links are adapted to join adjacent sections that comprise each vertical and horizontal strand, and are composed of rope sockets II and i2, which are fixed to the adjacent ends of the several strand sections. These sockets are provided with clevises l3 and clevispins M, arranged to re- 40 ceive a frangible or deformable link member l5. Each of the link members is preferably arranged I with its opposite ends bent over in opposite direc tions about the clevis pins M, in a. substantial S shape as is shown in Figure 9. The nature of these links is such that when pressure is applied to the portions of the netting subtended thereby, the link portions l 5, will either rupture or deform so as to permit the adjacent strand sections secured thereby, to part, whereby the net portion usually supported by these links, is completely severed from the body portion of the net.

An electrical conductor I6 is attached, preferably in a serpentine manner, to the vertical and horizontal strands of the net by suitable fastenings IT. The fastenings 3, which are employed net sections as are employed in the to secure the vertical and horizontal strands together at their intersections, are usually of the form disclosed in Figure 5; that is, two complementary annular members i8 and I9, joined by rivets 20 to secure the intersecting strands together, as shown. However, at the intersections where the electrical conductor I6 is laid, one of the annular members is constructed so as to provide a spool 2|, which is adapted to receive several turns of the conductor I 6, as is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The conductor, when fastened in this manner, is firmly secured against axial movement relative to the strands along which it is laid.

The conductor I6 is accommodated, at the frangible links ll, by spool members 22, which are secured upon the cievis pins II, in such a manner as to provide for several turns of the conductor being taken about each spool, and so as to obtain a single diameter of the conductor bridging the space between the spools, substantially parallel and adjacent to the link l5. This arrangement is adopted to insure that the portion of the conductor extending between each ofthe link spools 22 will be ruptured, in the eventuality of the associated link giving way, for purposes to be presently explained. In this manner,

the electrical conductor is laid across the entire net, including the portions thereof retained by the frangible links, so as to cover substantially the entire planar area defined thereby. A main power cable 23, is carried along the netting adjacent the support cable 4, by suitable brackets 24, which form a part of the clamp members 8. This main power cable connects the portions of the electrical conductor l6 that span the frangible portions of the net to a system of relays, which are arranged to actuate signals of anydesired character. In a preferred embodimerit, the signals and relays may be located within certain of the buoys, as is indicated 'at 25, which are instrumental in supporting the netsupport cable 4. Suitable connectidns between the relays (not shown), signalling means, conductor It, and power cable 23, are shown at 26. The power cable may extend to i y of the may be extended at one end of the net to afsuit 21, or in any other suitable manner. .Net' sections may be added indefinitely to increase the lateral or vertical extent of the net by simply annexing additional sections to those already in place by means of strand clamps 34. As the netis enlarged in lateral extent, the newly added sections may be electrified for signal purposes by splicing additional lengths onto the power cable 22, and conductor l6.

The wiring system is such that when a frangible portion of the netting is engaged by a submarine craft, it will be severed from the body of the netting, and the portions of the conductor Ii, bridging the frangible links, will be broken and carried away with the severed portions of the net. Upon being broken, one of the relays (not shown) is actuated to cause an adjacent signal 25 to indicate at the surface of the water, or in a remote station, such as at 28, which frangible section of netting has been carried away, thus revealing the location of the submarine body.

loyed to secure able station 28, on shore, as by a submarine cable t 1 t d together at their intersection, a

depth. The construction is quite similar to that hereinbefore described,.in that it employs buoys, 5, supporting cable 4, anchor strands i, anchors I, hanger-clamps 8, frangible'links l0, and strandintersection fasteners 3. It differs from the preceding structure only in that each section, instead of being applied to adjacent sections by strand clamps 34, so as to form extensions of the netting strands already in place as coaxial continuations thereof, is formed in the manner of individual curtains, which may be dropped or unfurled in overlapping relationship to the adjacent sections from the support cable 4. In this construction, it may be desirable to provide each buoy 5 with a pair of anchor strands 6, to which the overlapping adjacent sections are secured at points where the elemental strands 2 of the latter intersect the vertically disposed anchoring cable by portions of the conductor It, in a manner similar to that already described. The frangible links ill are designed to permit easy breakage under strain, as has already been explained, so that the vertical curtain formed by each net section will be torn out when contacted by a submarine craft. The nature of the fastenings 33 shown in Figure 14, by means of which the adjacent overlapping sections of netting are made fast to the anchor ropes 6, is such that will permit of the curtain sections also being pulled free of the anchor cables, when the frangible links, III are caused to fail. upon the application of strain.

In all embodiments, the disposition and extent of the conductor I8, is such as will assure its being severed somewhere along its lengtheither upon any of the frangible net sections being-carried away, or upon the application of cutting devices to remove any portions of the netting by stealth.

If it is desired to provide a strong, impregnable defense netting, the frangible links may be omitted from the above construction, and instead of the annular fastening device I being emthe various vertical and hot!- s urdy cable clamp 29 may be employed, similar to that shown in Figures 12 and 13. ,In this form of net, the electrical conductor II, the main power cable 23, and associated relay Ignal circuits, are retained to function in mnner similar to that which has already been described, in the event that the netting is cut by a submarine craft seeking to penetrate the protected area. Such a net is adapted to withstand considerable force so as to eifectually resist the passage of submarine craft, and is only susceptible of pene- In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, we fastening shown in Figure 15, which is comprised have provided a netting similar to that already described but which is perhaps better adapted for protection of bodies of water of considerable of a sturdy cievis with associated pin ll, and

which will resist breaking strains and retain the elements of the net securely together.

In the frangible link type of net disclosed first hereinabove, it will be observed that its value lies not, so much as constituting a defensive barrier, as in constituting a signalling means whereby hostile submarine craft may be instantly detected, located, and destroyed or captured. Its only utility as a defensive structure lies in the fact that any one of its frangible portions, after being disassociated from the body of the net, will be inclined to cnvelopthe craft within its mesh and thereby will be most likely to become fouled in its propellers and steering gear. In this manner, the net does serve to disable hostile vessels.

while at the same time. reveals the presence and location thereof. The latter type of net; namely, the impregnable defensive barrier type, is arranged to efiectually exclude hostile craft from penetrating into a restricted zone. It is adapted only to reveal their presence and location in the event an attempt is made to cut through them, in which case the alarm as to the presence and location of the oifensive submarine craft is given.

Nets embodying the present invention are easily and; rapidly installed in place and are made to any desired size by simply adding additional sections to. those already in place. In the case of sections being damaged or removed by the penetration of a submarine craft. replacements may be kept on hand and rapidly installed to repair the breach. The fittings; as. the hanger clamps 8, fastenings 8, and 83, have been carefully designed with a thought toward facilitating such replacements.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as definedby the following claims.

We claim: h

1. In an electric signalling system including an electric signal, a submarine barrier comprising a mesh-like barrier member disposed to obstruct a sub-surface water-way, at least one electric conductor element 'carried on said mesh-like barrier and operably connected with said electric signal, spaced points of said mesh-like barrier being weakened so as to separate when stressed, and said electric conductor bridging said spaced points of said barrier and arranged to break when said mesh separates at said weakened points and to operate said electric signal.

2. A device for indicating the presence of subsurface water craftcomprising, in combination, a mesh-like barrier member disposed to obstruct a sub-surface water-way, means for supporting and anchoring said mesh-like barrier in. position, a main power conductor carried by said supporting means. a signaling system connected to said conductor, and an electric conductor car- !ied by" portions of said mesh-like barrier member and connected to said main power conductor, spaced points of said mesh-like barrier being weakened so as to separate when stressed, said electric conductor bridging said weakened portionsof said mesh-like barrier to break when said mesh-like barrier separates at said weakened portions and operate said signaling system.

3. In a signalling system including, an electric signal, a submarine barrier comprising crossed strands forming a mesh-like barrier member disposed to obstruct a subsurface water-way,- an

- electrical conductor carried by certain of said strands and operably connected to an electric signal system, frangible link members interposed between certain of said strands at spaced points in said mesh-like barrier, and means on at least some of said frangible links for supporting the electrical conductor across said links so that when said mesh-like barrier is ruptured at the frangible link supporting said electrical conductor, said electrical conductor will break to operate said signal.

4. In a signalling system including an electric signal, a submarine net comprising, in combination, a plurality of sections, a surface cable adapted to support the top edge of said net, anchoring means for said net, electrical conductors carried by portions of said net and operably connected with the electric signal, frangible fastenings connecting spaced portions of said 

